German Delegation
The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) hosted at its premises an official German delegation “Technical Service Companies from Germany” supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology and with the cooperation of the Middle East and North Africa project partner (MENA).
The companies represented in the delegation were from different economic sectors including: infrastructure, communications, oil and gas exploration, and the chemical industry.
The German delegation accompanied by the German Ambassador to Qatar Mr. Drik Baungartner, and headed by Mrs. Martina ziebell Managing Director of MENA Project Partner included Mrs. Susanne Ackermann Representative of the German Industry and Commerce Office in Qatar, and a group of prominent executives representing the German companies
The delegation was received by Mr. Hussain Ibrahim Al Fardan, QBA Deputy Chairman, Shk. Nawaf Bin Nasser Al Thani QBA Board Member, Mr. Omar Hamad Al Mana QBA Board Member, and QBA Members Dr. Hamad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Kawari, Mr. Maqbool Habib Khalfan, Mr. Mohammad Marzoq Al-Shamlan, Mr. Khalid Ahmed Al Mannai, Mr. Khalifa Abdullah Al Suwadi, Mr. Sherida Saad Jubran Al Kaabi and Mr. Bassam Massouh QBAs General Manager.
Mr. Hussain Ibrahim Al Fardan, QBAs Deputy Chairman explained to the delegation the significant status Qatar achieved in becoming an investment attraction center, through the wise guidance of H.H Shk. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani the Emir of the State of Qatar. Mr. Al Fardan focused in his word on the vital role the private sector plays in setting up a healthy and developed economic climate in Qatar, and he also expressed the desire of the Qatari businesses and businessmen in establishing joint projects with the German business community to further strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries.
Mr .khalifa Abdullah Al Suwadi QBA member and General Manager of QAFCO spoke about the investment opportunities that resulted from the expansion of the fertilizer and petrochemical industries and the policy the state run companies are following in collaborating with foreign investors in order to develop petrochemical and fertilizer plants.
QBAs members also discussed with the delegation, the advantages and benefits of investing in Qatar and the facilities and legislations developed by the government in order to attract foreign investors to establish businesses in the local market, such as: exemption from taxes on exported products of the interprise, no custom duty on imports of machinery, spare parts, and intermediary goods, providing electricity for a lowered price for industrial plants and hotels.
Finally, the German delegation expressed their admiration of the presence of a leading organization in the region like QBA. and their appreciation of the efforts made by this association in supporting and developing the role of the private sector and thus enhancing Qatar’s economic role globally through the preparation of business conferences and the participation in international forums, the organization of delegations from and to foreign economic influential countries and the attraction of local and foreign investments to Qatar .